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10 Years After Dawson College Shooting By Kimveer Gill, Victims And Families Still Suffering

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Sep, 2016 11:22 AM
    Montrealers will commemorate the 10th anniversary today of the shooting at a junior college when a man murdered a young woman and wounded 16 other people.
     
    Kimveer Gill, 25, used a semi-automatic rifle to shoot 72 rounds in and near Dawson College in downtown Montreal on Sept. 13, 2006.
     
    He shot six students outside the school's main doors before entering the cafeteria and killing 18-year-old Anastasia De Sousa.
     
    Gill was eventually hit by a police bullet before killing himself with one of his own weapons.
     
    Anastasia's mother says she never stops thinking of her daughter, who would now be 28.
     
    Louise Hevey De Sousa says her life changed forever that day and that the family is still suffering.
     
    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement on Tuesday to commemorate the anniversary.
     
    "Ten years ago, senseless acts of violence were committed at Dawson College in Montreal, when a shooter opened fire on innocent students, killing one young woman and injuring 16 other people," Trudeau said.
     
    "In the aftermath of these tragic events, a whole community was left grieving and in a state of shock.
     
    "On this sad anniversary, we remember and honour the memory of the victims of this tragedy. Our thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those whose lives were forever changed that day."
     
     
     
    TIMELINE OF EVENTS AT DAWSON COLLEGE ON SEPT. 13, 2006
     
    A timeline of the events at Montreal's Dawson College on Sept. 13, 2006, when student Anastasia De Sousa was shot to death and 16 other people were injured:
     
    12:41 p.m: A man opens fire at the entry of the college on de Maisonneuve Boulevard. He then enters the building and shoots at students in the cafeteria.
     
    ———
     
    12:42: A first call is placed to 911. The suspect is wearing a black trenchcoat
     
    — — —
     
    12:44: The first police officers arrive at the scene. They exchange gunfire with the suspect and wound him. Injured and cornered, he kills himself.
     
    — — —
     
    1:30: Police drag his body outside and cover it up. Meanwhile, a vast security perimeter is set up outside Dawson in case other shooters are involved. Authorities evacuate nearby buildings as well as the Alexis-Nihon shopping centre. Service is interrupted on one of the city's subway lines between the McGill and Lionel-Groulx stations.
     
    — — —
     
    1:50: Police evacuate Dawson and bring out the injured. A tactical squad tries to bring out those students still barricaded inside and who had heard rumours about other shooters and a hostage-taking.
     
    — — —
     
    3:40: A first police report mentions at least 13 people have been injured.
     
    — — —
     
    4:30: The Montreal General Hospital holds a news conference and says six of the injured require an operation.
     
    — — —
     
    4:40: Police confirm the only suspect is dead. The number of injured reportedly climbs to 20 but would later be revised to 16.
     
    — — —
     
    5:55: Police confirm the death of a young woman in the college. The next day, she is identified as Anastasia De Sousa, 18. She was shot nine times.
     
     
    7:55: Then-premier Jean Charest holds a news conference. He says "the life of Quebec stopped during long moments today" and that his government will do all it can to help the college and the victims' families.
     
    — — —
     
    9:15: Police hold a last news conference and confirm that one suspect, a Canadian, was the shooter. He is identified the next day as Kimveer Gill, 25, of Laval, Que. Authorities dismiss the theory the attack was fuelled by racism or terrorism.

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